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Youth Committee Update Reported by Nancy L. Jewell, Youth Sewing Committee Chairperson, and VSM Sewing Inc. Publicity Director

The SEA Youth Committee “Pillow Patrol” community service project has proved to be a huge success. Recently, the Pillow Patrol project was set in the Sewing Educators Alliance/Sewing Dealers Trade Association booth, at the 50th National Girl Scout Council Session in Atlanta, GA. Hundreds of Girl Scouts and their leaders sewed drawstring pillowcases, making approximately 400 which were donated to the Family and Children Services of Atlanta. Over 10,000 attended this conference and it was amazing to see how many non-sewers we were able to touch at this event. Check with your local school system and even area churches and inquire about the local Girl Scout troops in your area.  These girls all have sewing badges to earn. Open your classroom to these enthusiastic learners and get involved with your community. Independent dealers, 4-H Groups, Girl Scouts, Family and Consumer Science classes and American Sewing Guild chapters participated in the Pillow Patrol project, with over 2,500 pillowcases being sewn and donated to-date. These efforts were centered around the community service inspired National Make A Difference Day.

The Youth Education Committee was so pleased with the results of the Pillow Patrol that we are going to repeat the program next year — Pillow Patrol II. The program will be enhanced with additional promotional materials including ideas on how to cross promote with other area businesses. In addition, the Youth Committee has created a mission statement to help guide its work. Part of the mission statement specifically states, “We will work to drive these future enthusiasts to the local sewing machine dealer by promoting the dealer’s ability to educate, nurture, provide superior customer service and carry these new customers throughout their sewing lives.” Our mission is to help you capture a future market. In doing so, we all must understand what makes this future market tick, how do they influence the buying decisions in their families. That is one subject that will be addressed during the VDTA/SDTA Show in Las Vegas, NV, Feb. 28-March 3, 2006. Today’s kids have tremendous spending power and they are the future of your business — of our industry.

So join us for this “hot topic” and understand that getting today’s youth sewing, is like triple dipping; You get the youngster. Next, you get the parent. Third, you get the loyal customer that these young people grow up to be.
1-2-06